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issue 5 july-august 2005
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Voices of People: Public Services

Eyeway asked some people what being a blind citizen of India means to them, with a focus on one specific aspect of life.

Manminder Singh
Captain of the Indian blind cricket team

We certainly don't have effective public services in India , especially for disabled persons. The most important thing, though, is social awareness, even in the metros. People have a skewed perspective about visually impaired persons. A so-called physically able person has the general pre-conceived notion that disability is the same as deficiency. Even with computerisation, we still have to struggle to establish ourselves.

I work as a stenographer with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Whenever there is a new officer I have to interact with, the first month is characterised by total indifference on the part of the new officer. Things start getting better only after a couple of months of working together. But, after around six months, when I am accepted and the officer knows my abilities, the system forces the officer to be replaced. And the whole process begins again.

Being sightless is not a big deal. All my other faculties are as strong as the next person's. But I have learnt to cope with this after all these years. But for others, this sort of treatment could easily lead to an inferiority complex and self-doubt.

The government can make rules, but these are implemented by government officials. So the support of government officials is necessary. We have a lot of seminars and conferences on these issues, but none of them lead to anything substantial being done. What the government needs to do is develop an integrated policy. For example, there are blind schools but the children who study there are cut off from the outside world. They have no idea of the outside world, the world they are going to step into.

To discuss public services specifically; in Shastri Bhavan, where I work, there are several facilities to assist the blind. Some of the elevators, for example, have instructions in Braille, and some of the instructions are announced. But if visually impaired people were to go to a crowded railway station, they would find it extremely difficult to find their way around. There should be special counters in all railways stations where disabled people can be attended do. We may need a bit of extra help, or a bit of extra time, with some of the processes and formalities.

Even to avail of several government facilities, physically disabled people should be allowed to use representatives to carry out the work. This is seldom allowed, and we have to be present physically everywhere.

To finish this with an example from a cricket match; when a sighted person plays an inter-departmental match, he gets all the benefits. But there are people in my team - the Indian national team - who have to take earned leave to be able to play, to represent their country. These are universal issues. If you promote blind cricket, it helps the players with all-round development and confidence.

Yes, slowly progress is being made, awareness is spreading. But the problem is that duties and directive principles are not enough. Rules and laws are needed.

Related stories:
Voices of People: Education
Voices of People: Leisure and Entertainment
Voices of People: Society
Voices of People: Culture
Voices of People: Media and Communications
Voices of People: Business
Voices of People: Employment
Voices of People: Sports
Voices of People: Transport
Voices of People: Being a woman
Voices of People: Relationships
How has the government fared?
It's India, but is it home?